Wire saw for cutting pipe

ABSTRACT

A wire saw for cutting pipe is provided including a saddle forming a saddle surface for abutting against a cylindrical pipe, an elongate guide fixed to the saddle, a bow having a first and second end, a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length L from the first end to the second end which is greater than a diameter D of the pipe, a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, and a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop. The elongate guide has an axis approximately perpendicular to an axis of the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle. An exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end. The bow is moveable on the elongate guide toward and away from the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The Present Application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/607,461, filed Sep. 7, 2012, which claims the prioritybenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/542,961, filedOct. 4, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/532,315,filed Sep. 8, 2011, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety to the extent permitted by law.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wire saws and in particular to a wiresaw for cutting pipe in the field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Municipalities have extensive networks of piping for controlling theflow of water from storage and pumping stations to users. The network ofpiping includes numerous valves such that portions of the network can beclosed off as needed for service while the remainder of the networkremains in operation. The piping required for such networks can range insize from as small as three or four inches in diameter to as large asthree feet in diameter. The piping and the valves of the water systemare located below ground and extend throughout the community.

When one of the pipes of a water system fails or changes are made to thedistribution network, municipal personnel first isolate a section ofpiping. One or more valves may be opened or closed to shut down waterpassing through the affected portion of piping. Thereafter, ground isremoved from above, around and under the pipe and the pipe is cut toremove the defective area or install new distribution features (valvesor branches). Thereafter, replacement pipes and components are cut andfit into the pipeline void left from the removed section.

Currently, hand held rotary saws are employed to cut pipe in the fieldfor making repairs for municipal water systems. Such hand held rotarysaws, however, are dangerous to the operator. Frequently, metal piecesbroken loose during the cutting process are tossed into the arms andface of the operator or the cutting media becomes pinched from thecompressive loads of the pipeline; the physical limitations of theoperator are inadequate to prevent the tool from bucking and becoming apeople cutting projectile. It is not uncommon for water system personnelto have scars from injuries incurred as a result of repairing the pipesthereof.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved saw for use by personnelof water systems, that maintains the desirable features of speed andweight, but safeguards the operator by limiting uncontrolled motion andguarding the cutting media for cutting pipe in the field.

SUMMARY

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing inthis section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.

In one aspect, a wire saw including a saddle having a contoured saddlesurface for receiving the curved surface of a cylindrical pipe isprovided. The wire saw also includes a clamp which extends around thecircumference of the pipe to retain the pipe against the saddle surface.

In one aspect, an elongate guide is attached to the saddle that has alongitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the axis of the pipe,which is retained against the saddle. In one aspect, the wire sawfurther has a bow having downwardly extending parallel sides, a bridgeend joining the upper ends of the parallel sides and the bow has a loweropen end. The bow has a plurality of rotatable wheels on which ismounted a wire loop, with the loop configured to have a portion thatextends across the open ends of the bow. The bow itself is moveable onthe guide toward and away from the pipe while the pipe is against thesaddle, and a feed screw for urging the bow toward or away from thepipe. In one aspect, one of the wheels is mounted on a spring loadedtensioning member for applying tension to the diamond wire.

In one aspect, the wire saw includes a water spray mounted on the bowfor directing a spray of water against the diamond wire.

In one aspect, a wire saw for cutting pipe is provided. The wire sawincludes, but is not limited to, a saddle forming a saddle surface forabutting against a cylindrical pipe, an elongate guide fixed to thesaddle, a bow having a first and second end, a bridge portion joiningthe first and second ends, and an open end having a length L from thefirst end to the second end which is greater than a diameter D of thepipe, a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, and acooling system for actively cooling the wire loop. The elongate guidehas an axis approximately perpendicular to an axis of the pipe when thepipe is abutting against the saddle. An exposed portion of the wire loopextends across the open end. The bow is moveable on the elongate guidetoward and away from the pipe when the pipe is abutting against thesaddle.

In one aspect, a method for cutting non-submersed pipe is provided. Themethod includes, but is not limited to, mounting a wire saw onto anon-submersed, cylindrical pipe. The wire saw includes a saddle forminga saddle surface for abutting against the pipe, an elongate guide fixedto the saddle, the elongate guide having an axis approximatelyperpendicular to an axis of the pipe when the pipe is abutting againstthe saddle, a bow having a first and second end, a bridge portionjoining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length Lfrom the first end to the second end which is greater than a diameter Dof the pipe, a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow,and a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop. An exposedportion of the wire loop extends across the open end. The bow ismoveable on the elongate guide toward and away from the pipe when thepipe is abutting against the saddle. The method further includes, but isnot limited to, moving the exposed portion of the wire loop towards thepipe, and cutting through at least a portion of the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a front elevational view of a device shaped to a pipe tobe cut, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a side elevational view of the device and pipe shown inFIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts an isometric view of the device and pipe shown in FIG. 1,in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of the saddle and guide assembly thatforms a part of the device shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a front elevational view of the front saddle plate forthe saddle and guide assembly shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a front elevational view of the rear saddle plate for thedevice shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the upper saddle retaining plate for thedevice shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of the lower saddle retaining plate for thedevice shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts an isometric view showing the bow of the device shown inFIG. 4 with the front covers removed, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts a front elevational view of the bow for the device shownin FIG. 4 with both front covers removed, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 10A depicts a fragmentary enlargement of FIG.10 showing thetensioning device in the bow, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts a front elevational view of the water cooling systemwithin the bow first shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts a side elevational view of the bow shown in FIG. 9, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 13 depicts a rear view of the bow shown in FIG. 9, in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 14 depicts an isometric view of the tensioner slide within the bowshown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 15 depicts an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tensionersystem, the cross-section taken through line 15-15 of FIG. 10, thetensioner system applying tension to the wire loop in the bow shown inFIG. 9, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 16 depicts a front elevational view of the drive wheel hub axle rimportion for driving the wire loop in the bow, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 17 depicts a cross-sectional view of the drive wheel section shownin FIG. 16, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 18 depicts a front elevational view of the drive wheel rim thatattaches to the rim portion shown in FIG. 16 to form the drive wheel, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 19 depicts a cross-sectional view of the rim portion shown in FIG.18, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 20 depicts a front elevational view of the inset for the wheelformed by assembling the parts shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 21 depicts a cross-sectional view of the insert shown in FIG. 20,in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 22 depicts a fragmentary enlargement of FIG. 21 showing thecross-sectional shape of the insert, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 23 depicts an isometric cross-sectional view of the wheel assembledfrom the parts shown in FIGS. 16, 18, and 20, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 24 depicts a perspective view of a device shaped to a pipe to becut, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 25 depicts a fragmentary enlargement of FIG. 24 showing atensioning device in a bow of a cutting device, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 26 an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tensioner system, thecross-section taken through line 26-26 of FIG. 25, the tensioner systemapplying tension to the wire loop in the bow, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 27 depicts a rear perspective view of the bow shown in FIG. 24, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 28 depicts an enlarged rear perspective cutout view of a gaugemounted to the bow shown in FIG. 24, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, to cut a length of steel pipe 10having a longitudinal axis 12, a cutting device 14 in accordance withthe present invention is provided. Preferably, the steel pipe iscylindrical pipe, and preferably, un-submersed pipe. The device 14 isnormally used by positioning the device 14 above the length of pipe 10in the orientation depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and for the purposes ofthis discussion the elements of the device 14 that are shown at theupper end of the figures will be described as being at the upper end orupward of elements that are shown in the lower portions of figures. Thelower elements will be described as being at the lower end or below theupper elements. Similarly, the portions of the device 14 depicted on theleft side of FIG. 2, and visible in FIG. 1 will be described as beingforward and the portions of the device 14 depicted on the right side ofFIG. 2 will be described as being rearward or behind the forwardportions.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 8, a central portion of the device 14is a saddle and guide assembly 16. The saddle and guide assembly 16includes a saddle or saddle portion, preferably formed by first andsecond parallel saddle portions or plates 18, 20 each of which has acontoured lower surface, or saddle surface, 22, 24 shaped to abutagainst the outer surface of a length of pipe 10. In the preferredembodiment, the contoured surface 22, 24 has parallel sloping sides thatslope toward a central groove 26, 28. The saddle portions 18, 20 areretained parallel to each other by upper and lower retaining plates 30,32.

Extending parallel to the saddle portions 18, 20 and perpendicular tothe retaining plates 30, 32 are a plurality of longitudinal supports 34,35, 36, or elongate guides, used to guide a bow 46 toward and away fromsaid pipe 10 while said pipe 10 is against said saddle plates 18, 20.Extending across the upper ends of the longitudinal supports 34, 35, 36is a guide alignment plate 38 that retains the supports 34, 35, 36 in anapproximately parallel relationship. Two of the longitudinal supports34, 35 are positioned adjacent the forward saddle plate 18 with thethird longitudinal support 36 centrally positioned adjacent the rearsaddle plate 20. As can be seen, the retaining plates 30, 32 retain thesaddle plates 18, 20 with the central grooves 26, 28 aligned with eachother for retaining the pipe 10 with the axis 12 thereof in anorientation perpendicular to the supports 34, 35, 36. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 8, an adjustable strap 40 of the type well known in the arthas a first and second end, each of which attaches to an eyehole 42, 44in the lower retaining plate 32 such that the strap 40 can be wrappedaround the circumference of a pipe 10 and tightened to retain the pipe10 with the axis thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal supports 34,35, 36.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 9, 10, and 13, slideably receivable alongthe longitudinal supports 34, 35 forward of the forward saddle plate 18is a U-shaped bow 46. The bow 46 has a metal housing and includes aU-shaped base plate 48 having parallel lower ends 50, 52 that extendparallel to each other and are joined by a centrally located bridgeportion 54. The bow 46 also has an arcuate inner edge 56 that joins thelower ends 50, 52. The outer edge of the base plate 48 includes parallelplanar lower sides 58, 60 and extending from the lower sides 58, 60 to atransverse upper end 62, tapered sides 64, 66. Extending around theouter edges of the base plate 48 is an edge wall 68. Mounted on hinges70, 72 on each edge wall 68 for the tapered sides 64, 66 are forwardpanels 74, 76. Preferably, when the panels 74, 76 are closed against theedge wall 68, central edges 78, 80 of the forward panel 74, 76 abut eachother such that the combined panels 74, 76 form a surface complementaryin shape to the base plate 48 and covering the forward end of the bow46. In one embodiment, each panel 74, 76 is a single piece, as shown inFIG. 1, and in another embodiment, each panel 74, 76 comprises multiplepieces, as shown in FIG. 24. Extending around the arcuate edge 56 of thebase plate 48, but stopping short of the lower ends 50, 52 is an innerguard 82. Except for apertures below the lower ends of the inner guard82, the housing formed by the base plate 48, the edge wall 68, the innerguard 82 and forward panels 74, 76 completely enclose the working partstherein.

The device 14 includes a flexible cutting member movable along a trackformed within the bow 46. Preferably, the cutting member is a wire loop92, movable along a track formed within the bow 46, and preferably adiamond wire loop or a wire loop 92 containing diamond pieces or diamonddust. However, other cutting member may be used, such as high carbonwire members, carbon fiber wire cutting members, and the like.Preferably, an exposed portion of the cutting member extends across anopen end of the bow 46 formed between the two ends 50, 52 of the bow 46.With reference to FIG. 1, preferably, the open end of the bow 46 has alength L from the first lower end 50 to the second lower end 52 which isgreater than a diameter D of the pipe 10.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 13, in one embodiment, the cuttingmember is a wire loop 92 movable along a track formed within the bow 46.Preferably, within the enclosure of the housing 48 and positioned neareach of the lower ends 50, 52, the track is formed using guide wheels84, 86 rotatable on shafts, unnumbered, along with a drive wheel 88positioned within the bridge portion 54 of the enclosure and driven by amotor 90 mounted on the rear surface of the base plate 48. Fitted aroundthe drive wheel 88 and guide wheels 84, 86 and movable along the trackformed by the wheels 84, 86, 88 is the wire loop 92. As can be seen, themetal housing 48 that forms the bow 46 entirely surrounds the wire loop92, except for an exposed portion 93 of the wire 92 that extends betweenthe guide wheels 84, 86 and across the lower ends 50, 52 of the bow 46.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 10, 10A, 14, 15, 25, and 26 in oneembodiment, device 14 includes a tensioning device which can increase ordecrease the tension of wire loop 92. Tensioning device may be anydevice which can increase or decrease tension on a wire, and inparticular, on a wire running along a track. Preferably, the tensioningdevice increase or decreases an overall length of the track, or changesthe configuration of the track, which results in an increase or decreaseof tension on the wire loop 92. In one embodiment, the tensioning deviceis provided by mounting one of the guide wheels 86 on a tensioner device96. The tensioner device 96 is operable to move the wheel 86 from afirst position to a second position, in order to alter the track length.For example, the tensioner device 96 may be operable to move the wheel86 towards wheel 84 or wheel 88 in order to decrease the length of thetrack and decrease the tension on the wire loop 92, or move the wheel 86away from wheel 84 or wheel 88 in order to increase the length of thetrack and increase the tension on the wire loop 92. Preferably, inaccordance with one embodiment, the tensioner device 96 includes a slidemember 98 having a pair of aligned apertures 97, and spaced from alignedapertures 97 a second pair of aligned apertures 99 and the pairs ofaligned apertures slideably receive parallel bars 100, 101 which extendacross the lower end 52 of the base plate 48 perpendicular to thesupport members 34, 35, 36. The slide member 98 is therefore moveabletoward and away from the opposing guide wheel 84. The slide member 98also has a threaded mounting hole 103 for receiving a shaft 212 on whichguide wheel 86 is rotatably mounted.

Preferably, retained in a cavity 105 within the slide member 98, abiasing member, such as a coil spring 102, which biases the wheel 86away from wheel 84 or wheel 88 in order to maintain a preset amount oftension on the wire loop 92, and prevent too much tension to be appliedonto the wire loop 92. Preferably, the wire loop 92 is operated in apreset range of tension in order to increase the life of the wire loop92. In one embodiment, coil spring 102 is retained in cavity 105 withinthe slide member 98, and the coil spring 102 has one end that abutsagainst a portion of the metal housing and the other end of which abutsthe slide member 98 for urging the slide member 98 and the guide wheel86 rotatably attached thereof away from the opposing guide wheel 84thereby applying tension to the wire loop 92 and helping to maintain thetension on the wire loop within a preset range.

In one embodiment, the position or range of motion of a guide wheel 84,86, 88, such as guide wheel 86, relative to the other guide wheels 84,86, 88, such as wheels 84, 88, is adjustable using an adjustment deviceof tensioner device 96. Preferably, in accordance with one embodiment,the adjustment device includes an adjustable screw 104 which isrotatably received in a threaded portion of the slide member 98 foradjusting the range of motion of the slide member 98 and therebyadjusting the tension on the wire loop 92. The screw 94 extends throughan aperture in the housing 48 (not numbered) so as to be accessible toan operator. In one embodiment, the screw 94 includes a hex head 106 soas to be easily adjustable using a wrench. With reference to FIG. 27, inone embodiment, an adjustment knob 210 is connected with the screw 94allowing for manual or hand adjustment of the tension on the wire loop92 by turning the knob, and thereby rotating the screw 94, causing thewheel 86 to move towards or away from wheel 84, and or, wheel 88. Anyone of a variety of adjustment devices may be used, either mechanical orelectro-mechanical, to adjust the position or range of motion of a guidewheel 84, 86, 88.

With reference to FIG. 13, welded to the rearward surface of the baseplate 48 are an upper and lower guide follower 108, 110 for slideablyreceiving longitudinal support 34 and upper and lower guide followers112, 114 for slideably receiving longitudinal support 35 such that thebow 46 is vertically slideable along supports 34, 35.

Preferably, the device 14 includes a feed unit for urging the bow 46toward and away from the pipe 10 when the pipe 10 is abutted against thesaddle portion or saddle plates 18, 20. In one embodiment, the feed unitincludes a feed nut 116, an elongate feed screw 118, and a manuallyoperable crank 120. The manually operable crank 120 is any type ofdevice, which may be purely mechanical or electro-mechanical, which canbe manually controlled and operated by an operator. Preferably,positioned on the rearward surface of the base plate 48, the feed nut116 threadingly receives the elongate feed screw 118, shown in FIG. 3,that extends parallel to the longitudinal supports 34, 35, 36 and isrotated by the manually operable crank 120 at the upper end thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the device 14 further includes acooling system that extends through the bow 46 for actively cooling thewire loop 92. By having a cooling system for actively cooling the wireloop 92, the device 14 can be used to cut non-submersed pipe 10, thatis, pipe 10 which is not already submersed in a liquid, such as underseapiping. Preferably, the housing formed by the base plate 48, the edgewall 68, the inner guard 82 and forward panels 74, 76 completely, or atleast partially, encloses the cooling system. In one embodiment, thecooling system is a water cooling system 122 which sprays or applieswater onto portions of the wire loop 92. The cooling system may be anydevice or device which may be used to cool portions of the wire loop 92,and may include any device or devices which spray a variety of differentfluids onto the wire loop 92, the fluids may be either liquid or gaseousfluids, to cool the wire loop 92.

In one embodiment, the water cooling system 122 includes first andsecond access waterlines 124, 126 at the outer ends of which are nozzles128, 130 that directs a water spray onto the surface of the wire loop 92as it rotates within the housing 48. The opposite ends of the tubing124, 126 join together at a T-union 132, with the input for the T-unionhaving a threading thereon for receiving a common garden hose or othersource of water. Water from the garden hose 188, as shown in FIG. 24, istherefore directed through the waterlines 124, 126 to the nozzles 128,130 for cooling the wire loop 92 so that failure of the wire loop 92 isprevented.

With reference to FIGS. 16 through 23, the drive wheel 88 has acentrally located hub portion 134 that is retained by a web, unnumbered,to the inner annular rim 136. Fitted against the inner annular rim 136is an annular outer rim 138, and between the annular inner and outerrims 136, 138 is an annular insert 140. The annular members 136, 138 areretained together by a plurality of screws 139. Preferably, the insert140 is made of a malleable material such as rubber for providing forceto the wire loop 92.

The idler wheels 84, 86 are identical to each other such that wheel 84is representative of both. Each of the wheels 84, 86 also has a hubportion that is retained by a web to an annular rearward rim. Fittedagainst the annular rearward rim 88 is an annular forward rim, andbetween the inner and outer rims is an annular wire gripping member forreceiving and guiding the wire loop. A plurality of screws retain therims together, all similar to the drive wheel 88.

With reference to FIG. 27, in one embodiment, in order to optimize thecutting performance of the device 14, precise control of entry/exitangles of the wire loop 92 into the pipe 10 as well as precise controlof the pressure or tension on the wire loop 92 is required. To achievethis, the tension of the wire loop 92 must be maintained within apredetermined or preferred range of tension. Preferably, a tensionindicator, such as a gauge 200, is mounted on the device 14, such as onthe rearward surface of the base plate 48, to provide the operator ofthe device 14 with feedback as to the amount of tension currently on thewire loop 92. The tension indicator, can be any device, such as amechanical or electro-mechanical gauge, sensor, or display which canindicate to the operator the current tension of the wire loop 92. Thetension indicator may be a visual indicator, or any other types ofindicator which can communicate to operator information, such as anauditory indicator, or a vibratory indicator. The tension indicator maybe used by the operator to either speed or slow the advancement of thebow 46 toward the pipe 10, in order to increase or decrease tension onthe wire loop 92 so that it may be maintained within a preferred rangeof tension.

With reference to FIGS. 27 and 28, preferably, in one embodiment, thetension indicator is a mechanical gauge 200 which indicates the tensionon the wire loop 92. Preferably, in one embodiment, the gauge 200displays an initial range of tension 202 representing an initial amountof tension on the wire loop 92, a preferred range of tension 204representing a preferred amount of tension on the wire loop 92, and anexcessive range of tension 206 representing an excessive amount oftension on the wire loop 92. Preferably, the mechanical gauge includes200 a needle 208 which is connected with the shaft 212, preferably via apin 213 located within a channel 214 formed on a base 218 of the needle208. Preferably, the needle 208 is rotatably mounted onto a housing ofthe gauge 200 using a fastener 216, such as a screw. Since the needle208 is connected with the shaft 212, as the shaft 212 moves upon beingadjusted using the adjustment device, the needle 208 also moves in turnto display the range of tension in which the wire loop 92 is under.

To operate the device 14 for cutting a length of pipe 10, the device 14is mounted onto a pipe 10, preferably by wrapping the adjustable strap40 around the circumference of the pipe 10 and tightened to hold thepipe 10 against the contoured surfaces 22, 24 of the saddle plates 18,20. The bow 46 is initially in the withdrawn position with the followernut 116 at the upper end of the feed screw 118 and near the crank 120. Awater supply is connected to the input end of the T-union 132 such thatwater is directed through the nozzles 128, 130. A source of pressurizedhydraulic fluid is connected to an input for the motor 90 for rotatingthe drive wheel 88 and moving the wire loop 92 around the bow 46. Withthe wire loop 92 rotating in the bow 46, the hex head 106 of theadjustable screw 104 is rotated as needed to adjust the tensioner device96 to adjust the tension on the wire loop 92. Preferably, the tension onthe wire loop 92 is set to an initial amount. Preferably, the initialamount is within an initial range of tension 202 displayed by thetension indicator.

Thereafter, the hand crank 120 can be rotated to urge the bow downwardalong the longitudinal supports 34, 35 and apply the exposed portion 93of the wire 92 between the lower ends 50, 52 against the surface of thepipe 10 thereby cutting the pipe 10. The operator will continue to crankthe crank 120 to apply appropriate tension to the wire loop 92 and urgethe bow downwardly until the wire loop 92 is cut through the diameter ofthe pipe 10. Preferably, the tension on the wire loop 92 during thecutting operation is kept within a predetermined or preferred amount oftension. Preferably, the preferred amount of tension is within apreferred range of tension 204 displayed by the tension indicator.Preferably, the tension on the wire loop 92 during the cutting operationis kept below an excessive amount of tension. Preferably, the excessiveamount is within an excessive range of tension 206 displayed by thetension indicator. If the tension exceeds the preferred amount andenters an excessive amount of tension, the operator, using the visualindicator, can slow down or stop turning the crank 120, in order toreduce or maintain a preferred amount of tension on the wire loop.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,”and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony withthe common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the subject matter of this disclosure pertains, and in onenon-limiting embodiment the terms are defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. It should be understood by those ofskill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms areintended to allow a description of certain features described andclaimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precisenumerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should beinterpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequentialmodifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimedare considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in theappended claims.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a singleembodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications andvariations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. It is therefore the intent of the appended claims tocover all such modifications and variations that fall within the spiritand scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to berestricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wire saw comprising: a bow having a first end, a second end and a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length (L) from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end, the second end and the bridge portion of the bow define an enclosure; and a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, wherein an enclosed portion of the wire loop is positioned in the enclosure and enclosed by the first end, the second end and the bridge portion and an exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end and is not enclosed by the bow; wherein the bow includes a rotatable panel to selectively expose at least a portion of the wire loop positioned in the bow.
 2. The wire saw of claim 1, further comprising a tension indicator to provide feedback as to an amount of tension on the wire loop.
 3. The wire saw of claim 2, wherein the tension indicator is a visual indicator mounted on a housing of the wire saw.
 4. The wire saw of claim 1, wherein the track is formed using a plurality of wheels on the bow, the wheels moving the wire loop along the track.
 5. The wire saw of claim 4, wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 6. The wire saw of claim 5, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise three wheels and the three wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 7. The wire saw of claim 1, wherein the wire loop is a diamond wire loop.
 8. The wire saw of claim 1, further comprising a cooling system including a water spray on the bow directing water toward the wire loop.
 9. The wire saw of claim 1, further comprising a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop, wherein the cooling system is coupled to and at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 10. The wire saw of claim 1, wherein the bow includes two movable panels to selectively expose at least a portion of the wire loop positioned in the bow.
 11. A wire saw comprising: a bow having a first end, a second end and a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length (L) from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end, the second end and the bridge portion of the bow define an enclosure; and a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, wherein an enclosed portion of the wire loop is positioned in the enclosure and enclosed by the first end, the second end and the bridge portion and an exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end and is not enclosed by the bow; wherein the bow further comprises a back plate, a wall extending from the back plate and a panel movably coupled to the wall, wherein the panel is movable between a first position, in which the panel is coupled to the wall and at least partially encloses the wire loop, and a second position, in which the panel is coupled to the wall and the enclosure is at least partially open to expose at least a portion of the wire loop positioned within the bow.
 12. The wire saw of claim 11, further comprising a tension indicator to provide feedback as to an amount of tension on the wire loop.
 13. The wire saw of claim 12, wherein the tension indicator is a visual indicator mounted on a housing of the wire saw.
 14. The wire saw of claim 11, wherein the track is formed using a plurality of wheels on the bow, the wheels moving the wire loop along the track.
 15. The wire saw of claim 14, wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 16. The wire saw of claim 15, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise three wheels and the three wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 17. The wire saw of claim 11, wherein the wire loop is a diamond wire loop.
 18. The wire saw of claim 11, further comprising a cooling system including a water spray on the bow directing water toward the wire loop.
 19. The wire saw of claim 11, further comprising a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop, wherein the cooling system is coupled to and at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 20. The wire saw of claim 11, wherein the panel is a first panel, the bow further including a second movable panel to selectively expose at least a portion of the wire loop positioned in the bow.
 21. A wire saw comprising: a bow having a first end, a second end and a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length (L) from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end, the second end and the bridge portion of the bow define an enclosure; and a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, wherein an enclosed portion of the wire loop is positioned in the enclosure and enclosed by the first end, the second end and the bridge portion and an exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end and is not enclosed by the bow; wherein the bow includes a back plate positioned on a first side of a portion of the wire loop, a forward panel positioned on a second side of the portion of the wire loop opposite the first side, a wall extending between the back plate and the forward panel on a third side of the portion of the wire loop and an inner guard that extends between the back plate and the forward panel on a forth side of the portion of the wire loop, wherein the back plate, the wall, the forward panel and the inner guard at least partially define the enclosure to inhibit access to the portion of the wire loop enclosed by the back plate, the wall, the forward panel and the inner guard.
 22. The wire saw of claim 21, further comprising a tension indicator to provide feedback as to an amount of tension on the wire loop.
 23. The wire saw of claim 22, wherein the tension indicator is a visual indicator mounted on a housing of the wire saw.
 24. The wire saw of claim 21, wherein the track is formed using a plurality of wheels on the bow, the wheels moving the wire loop along the track.
 25. The wire saw of claim 24, wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 26. The wire saw of claim 25, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise three wheels and the three wheels are positioned in the enclosure and are at least partially enclosed by the bow.
 27. The wire saw of claim 21, wherein the wire loop is a diamond wire loop.
 28. The wire saw of claim 21, wherein the forward panel is a first forward panel, the bow further including a moveable second forward panel to selectively expose at least a portion of the wire loop positioned in the bow. 